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Nashville's disabled style blogger extraordinaire. Sharing my passion for fashion, style, trends, and a glimpse at life in Nashville while advocating for social awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. Because fashion is for every body.

This week's post is a little early because I'm honored to be one of over 1200 bloggers contributing to the 1000 Voices for Compassion campaign. Please take some time out of your day to read a few of these marvelous pieces and share copiously using the hashtag #1000Voices

I can't change the world. But I can change my world.

Compassion is like a pebble thrown into a pond. creates movement in ever expanding circles. It is a force that cannot be ignored, even as the pebble sinks out of sight. Compassion is not pity. Pity is a passing, passive thought that keeps us at arm's length. Compassion compels us to act, so we are no longer apart from, but instead are a part of, what goes on around us.

You may wonder what a fashion and style blog has to do with compassion. After all, these things are often thought of as frivolous and superficial and having nothing to do with any deeper context. But I have a unique point of view that is accompanied by an unconventional opinion about fashion and style as it relates to people with disabilities. Namely, that we are entitled to both, even though they may be harder for us to come by. I believe that fashion and style can not only change the way society views a person with a disability. It can also change the way they esteem themselves.

If you are well-acquainted with a person who has a disability then you know the challenges they face on a myriad of different levels. If you're not, I won't speak for the disabled in an effort to get you to understand. Instead, I'll speak for myself and my own circumstances.

I was born with Cerebral Palsy, which is a fancy umbrella-term for irreversible brain damage most often sustained during birth. There are no two people with CP who exhibit the same symptoms in an identical manner. In this respect we are like little snowflakes; unique but equally beautiful.

When you see me out and about in my electric wheelchair or behind my walker you'll notice that I have a hard time keeping still because my extremities are most comfortable when drawn in, much like the fetal position. My fine motor skills are affected so it's very difficult to perform small movements such as buttoning a shirt or typing. My hands twitch and so does my face - this can make posing for and getting great photographs a challenge. I never seem relaxed, yet I look quasi-inebriated at the same time.

Nobody sees the amount of effort it takes for me to perform the simplest of tasks. Nobody knows that my daily routine includes walking, Yoga and healthy eating in order to try to keep my condition from worsening as I age. But there is one thing everybody sees; me. I cannot be invisible. I don't have the luxury of fading into the background or going incognito.

Like it or not - politically correct, "disability acceptable" language aside - I'm going to be judged based on my disability and the way I present myself. There's also a good chance that judgement may be applied to others with disabilities that look similar to my own. Instead of seeing this as a burden I view it as an opportunity. An opportunity to shatter the stereotype that people with disabilities have no voice or place in society. Using fashion as a non-verbal message that I am approachable and self-confident has yielded overwhelmingly positive interactions with others, both disabled and able-bodied. It is an emphatic punctuation mark that says, "I am here to claim my place in society."

My place, it turns out, includes being in the company of wonderful, fashion-forward fashionistas, many of them as passionate about the notion that fashion is for everyone as I am I also do everything I can when I network with people, organizations, and venues to help make my city of Nashville, Tn, more accessible on every level to anyone that is "different".

Spashionista

Nashville's disabled style blogger extraordinaire, a 50+ fashionista with Cerebral Palsy who wants women of all ages and abilities to feel beautiful.

With Spashionista I hope to share all of my passions expressed in my town with my physical limitations at my stage in life. That includes fashion and trends and giveaways geared towards older, curvier, and disenfranchised woman. But it also includes a glimpse at life in Nashville, which is one of the fastest-growing, cosmopolitan cities in the southern US, and a steady push towards social awareness and acceptance of the disabled. I believe a narrative that advocates for positive, lasting social changes can be entertaining as well as enlightening.

Lunch with @miltonwhite, @tribetalent and @kendalllparker. Pretty sure we could rule the world together - and make everyone look and feel fabulous in the process. Wearing vintage and channeling Chanel. *
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#nashvillefashion #fashionstylist #dangerousduo #fashionisforeverybody #ffeb19

Had lunch today with the lovely @9athomas. She gifted me this Bowie illustration from an adult coloring book she finished herself. This is the fourth piece of Bowie art I've been given in the last six months. Time to dedicate some serious wall space to this collection. *
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#BowieForever #nashville #adultcoloringbook #inspiration #davidbowie #Bowie

My friends are more talented than yours. This lovely lady's brand @aladyofthelake graced @fashionis4everybody's last runway show and will be showing for the first time at Nashville Fashion Week in April. You don't want to miss out! Link to tickets in bio. *
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#nashville #cerebralpalsy #wheelchairmodel #nashvillefashion #whynfw

About. This. Jacket. SO me! Only my dear friend and fellow miscreant @anyoldiron can make purple and black sequins look this chic. No wonder he's this year's Rising Star at Nashville Fashion Week. Come see for yourself on Friday, April 5th when his latest collection drops at NFW. Get your tickets now! *
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#dresslikearockstar #nashvillefashion #cerebralpalsy #fashionisforeverybody #wheelchairmodel

Here I am sporting my new @buddybagbestie It's a great way to carry around your water or your phone without looking like a dork doing it. That's especially important when your wheelchair dependent. We all want to look cool right? The Buddy bag stretches to accommodate a drink or your phone or wallet. Basically anything you need on hand, so you don't have to worry about juggling or losing those little items. A hands-free experience is really important to wheelchair users especially those in manual chairs that push themselves. *
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#nashville #cerebralpalsy #wheelchairmodel #buddybag #festivalgear #handsfree

Got any plans for Thursday night? Come on out to track one to see this one-of-a-kind fashion show featuring some of Nashville's most innovative designers . I will be one of the judges and the early word is that it's going to be a tough job! Proceeds for the show go to @snooty_giggles dog rescue. Because you know I'm all about the doggies and you should be too! Get your tickets at www.roguefashionshow.com

I am honored to be featured in @connie.mcleod's book, Ģrowing Your Creativity. It's a workbook to help you live your life with joy by tapping into your own creativity. My story is in the section about embracing your flaws and overcoming obstacles. Are you curious yet? I encourage you to check out her profile for the link to the book. *
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#therealwonderwoman #growingyourcreativity #cerebralpalsy #wheelchairmodel #fashionblogger #fashionisforeverybody

Panama Hats and beaded hair-tie bracelets from @banded2gether, black and white reversible sequins from @anyoldiron, and camel and white on @kendalllparker. What's not to love here? It gets even better. Every purchase from banded2gether provides three meals to a child in need. These hats are adjustable and affordable and the perfect accessory, and the hair-tie bracelets are as beautiful on your wrist as they are in your hair. They make great holiday presents (even if you give them to yourself) 😉
Just to prove the point I am giving one of these hats away. The winner will have their choice of Bold Silver, Wild Palomino, or Urban Shadow. To enter, follow @banded2gether, @spashionista and @fashionis4everybody on Instagram, then leave a comment on this thread. I will pick a winner on Thursday, November 27th. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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#banded2gether #panamahat #accessories #holidaygiftideas #hairaccessories #bandedwomen

I’m glad that companies are thinking about adaptive clothing but some of what they are calling adaptive does not pass my muster. #adaptiveclothing #cerebralpalsy #bodypositive #disabilityawareness #inclusivefashion #disability

I was asked to speak to @runwayofdreams about marketing as it pertains to disability. Here is a small clip of what I had to say. Let me know if you want to hear more! #runwayofdreams #fashion #inclusivefashion #disabilityawareness #bodypositive #adaptiveclothing #cerebralpalsy

Honored to be featured on @beautifulstrength_org today! If you haven't yet go follow them right now. I 💜📷@annettekmcnamara and her #borntobeabadass attitude!
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#nashville #cerebralpalsy #wheelchairmodel #beautifulstrength #badass

A Night in Paris was a huge success! If you don't know who @realalphonsemucha is I can't hang with you. Come and see four pieces by Mucha and a myriad of art, fashion and sculpture by the Parisian bohemians circa 1900, aka old school punks, at the Frist until January 6th #fristparis #fristfriday #nashville #artnouveau #alphonsemucha

It’s that time again. Come join me at the Nashville Fashion Week kick off party . @nashfashweek #whynfw #nashville #fashion